A Duo Made for Success: OT and Speech Therapy

April is also the month to recognize and honor Occupational Therapists!

Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy are the carrots and peas of the therapy world.  OK – Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy might be more like the carrots and peas, however OT and Speech are a close second.

What is Occupational Therapy?

OT provides therapeutic intervention for a plethora of needs children with speech-language deficits may encounter.   From sensory to visual motor to social needs to strength to feeding to many many more, our fellow therapists work to make the lives of their clients as independent and fulfilling as possible.  Speech therapists appreciate and NEED the input of Occupational therapists to develop therapeutic intervention that address the WHOLE child.

Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy work hand in hand

We at Lakeshore Speech would like to give a standing ovation to Occupational Therapists!  If you would like more information on Occupational therapy, please feel free to inquire of your Speech Therapist as well as The Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

What to do This Summer?: Top 3 Questions Answered

Take the time you need to make solid decisions about your child.

Summer?  Here in NorthEast Ohio, snow is still flying …. the idea of Summer doesn’t seem like it will every be a reality!  Alas, we all know those Spring showers will bring those May flowers and Summer is but a few days away!  And so the age old question – to schedule the summer away or not? Everyone has on opinion on this topic.  Sign the kids up for camp after camp after camp so they don’t miss a thing.  Don’t sign the kids up for anything and let the lazy days of Summer lead the adventure. And with every opinion, there is child, parent, family that stands in the shadows waiting for the final answer.

So what is the right answer? That is an answer only YOU as your child’s caregiver can answer.  What is needed in the Summer months for one child may not be needed for another.  As a caregiver, you need to sit yourself down and really think about a few questions.  Answer them honestly and then act upon them and don’t look back.

Three questions to ask yourself

Question #1: What does my son/daughter/child NEED during the Summer months?

Do they NEED the structure of a camp? Do they NEED a flexibility schedule? Do they NEED intensive therapeutic intervention or time with peers? Do they NEED a summer off?  What your child NEEDS vs what you WANT can really make a huge difference in the effectiveness of the Summer programming.

Question #2: How much TIME do you and your family have to devote to the Summer program?

Look at that calendar – Summer FLIES by waaay to fast.  When do you plan on going on vacation?  When are you going to visit Grandma and Grandpa?  When is Grandma and Grandpa coming to visit?  Signing up for any program or intervention and then canceling is non-productive for you as well as the therapist/program on the other end.  Sign-up for days/times that you are pretty sure you will be FREE.  Does this mean no Monday or Friday programming for you? Does this mean nothing before 11am?  The flexibility of your child’s schedule is paramount in planning for Summer programming.

Question #3: What’s the budget?

We all know price is a big factor in any and all Summer programming.  How much is the ultimate limit? Would your money be better spent on one Summer program or spread out among a few?  What funding opportunities exist for your child?  Is a Summer program ‘gift worthy’ – meaning is it worth the time to suggest a family member(s) give the Summer program to your child as an early birthday or holiday gift? Staying in your budget is just as important during the Summer as it is any time of the year.

You Hold the Answers

Summer programming is up to you and your child.  You hold the answer that is right for your child and your situation.  We know you’ll make the right decision!

 

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Learn How to Use and Model Social Skill Filters

“I can’t believe you just said that!” We have all experienced a moment when our child blurts out a thought  that should have stayed in their heads.

Join Ellen Spear, MA, CCC-SLP, of Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC, as she helps children use their “social filter” and understand how words and actions have an effect on others. Using role play, video, and smalll group activities,  this hour long program will focus on deciphering the hidden rules of  inside thoughts vs expressing a thought out loud.. We will  determine whether we need to use our “thinking bubble”  or “talking bubble” across a variety of different social situations and learn about the where, when, and who of venting.

Where: Lakewood Public Library
When: Saturday, February 3, Sessions begin at 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm

Online registration at www.connectingforkids.org

How to Use Coupons to Build Communication

Coupons can help create communicaiton

Junk mail,  inserts in the Sunday papers….those shiny glossy teeny tiny piece of paper worth $.25, $.50, $1!!!!!  If you are savvy shopper your coupons are organized and ready to go with every shopping trip.  If you are not the organized savvy shopper, your coupons are a crumpled at the bottom of your purse or better yet in a pile on the kitchen counter, never to see the inside of a store.

Coupons are not just for saving a few pennies!  Coupons open the door for communication!  There are a number of easy – and fast – ways to not only create a mode of communication for your child, but to help she/he practice specific sounds, increase story telling, turn taking, and the list goes on!

How to Use Coupons to Create a Communication Board

Coupon Communication Board:  use coupons or the adds surrounding the coupons to make a simple communication board for your child.  Cut the object on coupon object out and tape or glue it in a grid form on a piece of paper.  The next time you are playing 20 questions trying to figure out what your child would like for a snack, a drink, breakfast, lunch or dinner simply pull out your “Coupon Communication Board” and have she/he point to the choice.

Expanding Communication

Coupons expand communication: not only can coupons create a wonder communication board, but those glossy adds make for wonderful ‘stories’ to talk about.  What do you see?  What is that?  Who is that? What are they doing?  Should a doggie be allowed to play with toilet paper?  Does candy really talk?  Touch something blue. Do you see anything that flies?  The number of questions to elicit and expand communication is endless!

No need to go crazy trying to find that ‘just right picture’, they’re right under your nose. Coupons are for communication!

 

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.